Pilgrims of Hope – a reflection
18 February, 2025
A Word of Hope
As I write this, trucks are flood bound around our region and across the north. There are moving stories of local people helping the stuck truckies out with food and supplies. While they wait and entertain themselves, they wait in hope that they will be on the road soon, giving the service that all of us depend on. And their hope is fairly certain: the water will go down, the army and local councils, the State services will clear the roads. Life will go back to normal (with the added distant hope that the Bruce, amongst other roads will be finally upgraded to fit the need). They have a hope that is likely to be fulfilled.
But there are people in our society who don’t have that hope. Sometimes they turn up seeking help from the St Vincent de Paul Society. Nobody sets out in life to be seeking our help but sometimes life knocks people down in ways they could not have expected. For others they end up at our door having made life choices that were far from wise. There are many different ways in which people can become desperate. They come to us, hoping for some material help. Their needs are often complex, and we can only fulfill some small part. Our hope is that what we give is something more, beyond the physical. We hope that we can see the face of Christ in them and then in turn they can see the face of Christ in us. Would they use that language? No, but what we hope for is that they know they have been treated with dignity and love.
This requires patience not just because their needs can be so complex but also because we often feel inadequate in our service. This is a good thing. In our inadequacy, we feel our neediness, we feel in some small way what they are going through. And we too turn for help, we turn to God to give us the grace and wisdom in each encounter to reveal his love.
The theme of this year’s Jubilee is Pilgrims of Hope. If we are to journey in hope, we first need to recognise that where we are isn’t good enough: God wants richer and deeper lives for us. The first step is to want to change. Then we pray, we ask God to show us that second step. And a most certain way of moving forward is to help those around us in need. Maybe a family member, a neighbour or volunteering in the community. One thing is certain about this journey, if we are to move forward in love, it will be with those around us in need.
Sr Kym Harris osb
This is the first of a series of reflections for the Jubilee Year of Hope. The reflections are inspired by the experience of serving within the St Vincent De Paul Society and are written by members of the St Vincent de Paul Spirituality Group.
Photo by Monica Mary Brown
